To Thomas Jefferson from Elizabeth G. Tart and Sarah Amelia Bampfield, 30 June 1805
From Elizabeth G. Tart and Sarah Amelia Bampfield
Bethlehem June 30th. 1805.
In our present unhappy situation we apply for assistance to Mr. Jefferson—, Mama is in a very ill state of health which is entirely owing to the present disagreeable Accomadation which she is obliged to submit to—. Captn. Kennedy her agent has failed in a remittance she expected—and the opinion here being against her wishes or inclination. we wish to go on to Baltimore to Mrs. Cave that she may be near a friend but have not the means—Inclosed she sends you her Note hoping you will render her that favor, which should it not be returned on demand she will as soon as the Season admits return home and be punctual in the payment of.
I enclose you one I have written to Governor M’Kean which Mama submits to your discretion fearing to cause any quarrels—& begs that some friend of Judge Johnsons may interfere but not himself. If ’tis necessary she begs you will call on her in Judge Johnsons favour—And the Letter need not be sent unless you think proper to do so—
You will I trust excuse our presumption as we are here friendless and unprotected—We are very respectfully yours.
Elizabeth G. Bampfield
and S A Bampfield
RC (DLC); addressed: “Thomas Jefferson—Esqr. President of the United States District of Columbia Virginia”; franked and postmarked Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1 July; endorsed by TJ as received 3 July and so recorded in SJL with notation “[insane] same as Anon. Jun. 22.” Enclosure: note dated Bethlehem, June 1805, which reads: “Captn Kenedy pay to the order of the Honble Thomas Jefferson—five hundred dollars and place the same to My account—Amelia Bampfield” (MS in same; in hand of Sarah Amelia Bampfield). Other enclosure not found.
Elizabeth G. Tart (1776-1817) was the sister of Sarah Amelia Bampfield. Together, the two women wrote a dozen letters to TJ in 1805. The following year, Elizabeth Tart married William S. Hasell of Charleston, South Carolina, who soon became the owner of the North Carolina Wilmington Gazette. In 1809, she and her husband were sued as the “Committees of Mrs. S. A. Bampfield.” After her husband’s death in 1815, it is possible that Elizabeth resumed using her premarital surname, and traveled to Liverpool, England, where she died in 1817 (Robert F. Clute, The Annals and Parish Register of St. Thomas and St. Denis Parish, in South Carolina, from 1680 to 1884 [Charleston, S.C., 1884], 85; Charleston Courier, 11 July 1806; Charleston City Gazette & Daily Advertiser, 23 Aug. 1809; Raleigh, N.C., Star, 20 Oct. 1815; New-York Daily Advertiser, 16 Dec. 1817; Brigham, American Newspapers, 2:780-1).